Der Hirt auf dem Felsen, Op.129, by F. Schubert 

Obbligato Transcribed for Alto Flute in G by Peter H. Bloom

Alto Flute Part, PDF $5.99

In the preface to his transcription, Mr. Bloom writes: "In terms of color, nuance, expression, dynamics, and tessitura the obbligato works exquisitely on the alto flute.  Theobald Boehm (1794-1881) designed our first modern alto flute in 1847.  Had Schubert (born in 1797) survived to hear it, I have no doubt that he would have made the alto flute an essential part of his armory of orchestration..... Der Hirt auf dem Felsen is very effective, also, in a purely instrumental arrangement for flute (taking the vocal line) and alto flute obbligato.  It's an ideal didactical vehicle for coaching the developing flutist in the art of rhetorical performance as well as a splendid concert/recital piece."

The premiere of Schubert's The Shepherd on the Rock, with obbligato transcribed for alto flute, was performed by D'Anna Fortunato (Mezzo-Soprano), Peter H. Bloom (Alto Flute), and Mary Jane Rupert (Piano) during a concert at the Gibson Theatre in Elmira, NY, on November 3, 2009, as part of the Elmira College Encore Series.

"Flutist Peter Bloom has done an invaluable service to Schubert and to concert singers by providing this charming arrangement, for alto flute, of the original clarinet obbligato to Der Hirt auf dem Felsen.  I've performed it in this version on several occasions and find that the flute timbre is alluring.  It's so easy to blend with and respond to the alto flute!  I believe that, had it been possible, the composer, himself, would have truly enjoyed this arrangement at a Schubertiade performance of his own."  —D'Anna Fortunato

We provide our alto flute transcription of the obbligato part, originally for clarinet.  The voice and piano parts are readily available as a free pdf download of the score, from sources such as imslp.org/.

Alto Flute part, 4 pages of music; Total, 8 pages.

Sonata in E minor, K.304, by W. A. Mozart

Transcribed for Alto Flute and Piano by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part, PDF $5.99

Mozart's second group of violin sonatas, the seven "Mannheim" sonatas of 1778, were begun in Mannheim where Mozart also worked on a flute commission.  The violin parts rarely make significant use of double stops and are in general very well suited to alto flute.  It is perhaps suggestive for performance that Mozart designated all his violin sonatas for "piano and violin".

Mozart's works in minor keys are rare and special: consider the G-minor quintet and Symphony No. 40.  The K.304 sonata is his only work in E minor and it is mysteriously compelling in its simplicity.  It was written the same summer that his mother died.   

We provide the transcribed alto flute part; the piano score is readily available in the public domain, free of charge.

For additional information about the seven Mozart Mannheim sonatas and their alto flute transcriptions, please read the Mozart’s Mannheim Sonatas article written by Mr. Pratt; the article was originally published by Flute Focus and subsequently republished by NSM on our Resources – Reviews and Articles page.

Alto Flute part, 5 pages; Total, 8 pages.

Sonata in A minor, Op.105, by Robert Schumann

Transcribed for Alto Flute (and Piano) by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part, PDF $8.99

Sonata in A Minor, Opus 105, was the first of two violin sonatas composed by Robert Schumann in 1851.  The first movement has a gentle melody very well suited to the alto flute and the kind of flowing piano accompaniment and overlapping harmonies one finds in much of Schumann's chamber music. The Allegretto, with its hesitations and shifting moods and motifs, is also well suited to the alto flute. The restless final movement is exciting and effective (and a workout for both players) whatever solo instrument is used. The range and dynamics of Schumann's violin part, as well as its character, fit the alto flute's nature and capabilities beautifully. We provide our alto flute transcription of the violin part; the piano score and original violin part are available elsewhere in the public domain as free pdf downloads (click on the link).

Alto Flute part, 9 pages of music; Total, 12 pages.

Sicilienne, Op.78, by Gabriel Fauré

Transcribed for Alto Flute (and Piano) by C.A.Vater

Alto Flute Part, PDF $3.79

Sicilienne (Opus 78) was composed by Gabriel Fauré in 1893 and first published as a chamber music version for solo cello or violin with piano accompaniment in 1898.  Numerous transcriptions of this popular piece have been made, including arrangements for flute and piano, viola and piano, horn and piano, flute and harp, 2 flutes and piano, flute and clarinet, and piano solo, among others.  Our alto flute part is a transcription based on the original violin and cello parts of the edition published by J. Hamelle in 1898.  We provide only the transcribed alto flute part; the piano accompaniment is readily available as a free pdf download of the original score for piano and cello, now in the public domain.

Alto Flute part, 2 pages of music; Total, 4 pages.

Trois Duos Concertants Brillants et Faciles pour Deux Flutes, by Eugène Walckiers

Gassett Collection - New Editions by C.A.Vater/Noteworthy Sheet Music, with a Foreword by Peter H. Bloom

2^me Livre de Duos pour 2 Flutes, Opus 11

Duo 1: Flute 1 Part, Flute 2 Part, and Score PDF $10.50

Duo 2: Flute 1 Part, Flute 2 Part, and Score PDF $15.00

Duo 3: Flute 1 Part, Flute 2 Part, and Score PDF $16.50

Eugène Walckiers studied composition at the Paris Conservatoire with Anton Reicha and became a masterful, inventive, and prolific composer and arranger of 19th century chamber music.  Both his original compositions and his arrangements are deeply significant in their expression of a particular, highly developed aesthetic approach.  Walckiers' 2^me Livre de Duos pour 2 Flutes, Opus 11, was dedicated to his friend Théodore Baltazaro and comprises three duets of three movements each.  NSM has re-notated all of the Opus 11 duets using a modern music composition software program.  

A review written by Katherine Borst Jones was published in the September, 2013 issue Flute Talk magazine.  "The publication contains extensive notes and material on the composer.  The second duet is great material for sightreading as well as studying the 19th century style of composition. Printed as flute 1 and flute 2, separately, the copy is clear and easy to read."  Click to read the full review. 

For additional information about the Gassett Collection, please see see our article An Introduction to the Gassett Collection.

Duo 1: Fl 1 & Fl 2 Score, 14 pages; Flute 1 part, 9 pages; Flute 2 part, 9 pages; Total, 37 pages. $10.50
Preview Duo 1

Duo 2: Fl 1 & Fl 2 Score, 20 pages; Flute 1 part, 11 pages; Flute 2 part, 11 pages; Total, 47 pages. $15.00
Preview Duo 2 

Duo 3: Fl 1 & Fl 2 Score, 25 pages; Flute 1 part, 11 pages; Flute 2 part, 11 pages; Total, 54 pages. $16.50
Preview Duo 3

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For those who would prefer to purchase a professionally-printed hard copy of this piece, rather than the PDF download, our print edition ofDuo 3 from the 2^nd Book of Duos for Two Flutes, Op.11 by Eugène Walckiers is available directly from NSM for $28.05 plus a $5.95 shipping and handling fee to addresses in the USA.  Please use the Contact Us form to let us know which hard copy publication(s) you would like to purchase, along with your email contact information and USPS mailing address.  We will then send you a PayPal invoice for the sale and, once we receive notice from PayPal that you have paid for the item(s), we will ship your music to the address provided.

Three Concertante Duets for Two Flutes, by Eugène Walckiers

Gassett Collection - Facsimile Edition by C.A.Vater/Noteworthy Sheet Music, with a Foreword by Peter H. Bloom

5th Book of Duets

Duetto 1: Flute 1 Part and Flute 2 Part, PDF $10.50

Duetto 2: Flute 1 Part and Flute 2 Part, PDF $10.50

Duetto 3: Flute 1 Part and Flute 2 Part, PDF $12.00

Eugène Walckiers (1793-1866) studied composition at the Paris Conservatoire with Anton Reicha and became a masterful, inventive, and prolific composer and arranger of 19th century chamber music.  Walckiers was also a flutist, having been a protégé of the legendary Tulou.  Rockstro, in his Treatise on the Flute (London, 1889), paid great tribute to Walckiers when he wrote: "The duets, trios and quartets of Walckiers belong to the highest school of French art, and prove their composer to have been a man of real genius.  They are exceedingly imaginative, occasionally rather eccentric, yet always elegant, charming, and scholarly."

Rosamund Plummer wrote an independent review of Noteworthy Sheet Music's edition of Walckiers' Duetto 1 which was reproduced on the NSM website after first being published by Flute Focus.   

Jason Ng & Campbell Wang won a Gold Award in the Secondary Duet Class of the 2012 New Zealand Woodwind Competition for their performance of Eugène Walckiers' 5th Book of Duets—Duetto I, published by Noteworthy Sheet Music.

For additional information about the Gassett Collection, please see see our article An Introduction to the Gassett Collection.

To Music, by Elizabeth Vercoe

Contemporary Composition for Solo Flute, PDF $6.99

Dr. Elizabeth Vercoe has been a composer at the St. Petersburg Music Festival in Russia, the Cité International des Arts in Paris, and the MacDowell Colony, and held the Acuff Chair of Excellence at Austin Peay State University in 2003. She has won many awards, commissions, and publications along with grants from the Artists Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. Her music is recorded on the Centaur, Capstone, Owl, Leonarda, and Parma labels and is published in print edition by Arsis Press.  

To Music (2003) is a short, atmospheric solo for flute in four contrasting sections.  At times the music is virtuosic, occasionally calling for multiphonics and other special effects. The titles of the four sections are taken from the haunting poetry of the Russian writer, Anna Akhmatova, a poet deeply interested in music.  

Click to access a recording of To Music performed by flutist Peter H. Bloom in 2011 which has been posted on YouTube.

To Music can also be heard on the PARMA Recordings all-Vercoe CD titled Kleemation and Other Works byElizabeth Vercoe, which has received excellent critical reviews.  Click to read an IAWM Journal review Dr. Laura G. Kafka or one by Lee Passarella published by Audiophile Audition magazine.  "There's more poetic reference in To Music, the titles of whose four short sections are taken from Russian poet Anna Akhmatova's work.  Like the Fantasy, it successfully showcases the colors and techniques available to the modern practitioner of her instrument, in this case the flute."

The image on our sheet music cover page displayed above is of Nathan Altman's 1914 painting, Portrait of Anna Akhmatova.  Please note that this image, courtesy of Wikipedia, is public domain in the United States because it was first published before 1923 but it remains copyrighted in its source country.  Therefore, we offer two editions of this publication, a USA edition with the Altman cover image and a non-USA edition without the cover image.  The editions are otherwise identical.  

To Music was commissioned by flutist Lisa Vanarsdel and written for her and for the Laurels Flute Project.  The piece was premiered in 2005 by flutist Peter Bloom on the Quincy Library concert series in Quincy, Massachusetts. In 2009 Capstone Records issued a recording entitled "Points of Entry" (CP 8806, second volume of the Laurels Flute Project) with flutist Nancy Stagnitta performing To Music. 

Listen to a bit of To Music:  mp3 tomusic

Grand Duo Concertant, Op.48, by Carl Maria von Weber

Transcribed for Flute and Piano by John. W. Pratt

Flute Part, PDF $9.98

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826), an important forerunner of the Romantic school, was a prolific composer, yet wrote only three substantial chamber works.  One is the Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet (or violin) and piano.  Sounding a bit like Mozart on steroids, with robust harmonies and brilliant passagework, it has three movements - an exciting Allegro con fuoco, a beautiful Andante with a very rich, chordal piano accompaniment and passionate piano interlude, and a sparkling Rondo.  This flute transcription of the Weber clarinet part is an NSM favorite.  The piano part is readily available in the public domain, as a free high quality pdf download of the score for clarinet and piano; here is a link to the listing on imslp.org:  Piano Score

Flute part, 10 pages; Total, 12 pages.

Grand Duo Concertant, Op.48, by Carl Maria von Weber

Transcribed for Alto Flute (and Piano) by John W. Pratt

Alto Flute Part, PDF $9.98

Carl Maria von Weber (1786-1826), an important forerunner of the Romantic school, was a prolific composer, yet wrote only three substantial chamber works.  One is the Grand Duo Concertant for clarinet (or violin) and piano.  Sounding a bit like Mozart on steroids, with robust harmonies and brilliant passagework, it has three movements - an exciting Allegro con fuoco, a beautiful Andante with a very rich, chordal piano accompaniment and passionate piano interlude, and a sparkling Rondo.  We offer this excellent alto flute transcription of the clarinet part; the piano part is readily available in the public domain, as a free high quality pdf download of the score for clarinet and piano; here is a link to the listing on imslp.org: Piano Score

Alto Flute part, 10 pages; Total, 12 pages.

Canal, by Matt Samolis

Contemporary Composition for Soprano and Flute, PDF $13.95

Matt Samolis began studying flute, then later composition and tenor banjo. He has worked with ensembles at New England Conservatory, Brandeis University, and Tufts University, as well as Open Hand Theatre, Pilgrim Research Collaborative, and numerous other projects.  Currently, his primary focus is composition, curating, and performing as a flutist with various local groups, as well as his drone alliance, The Metal & Glass Ensemble.

Canal is written in a free, self referential style, and uses the text of Roy Campbell's poem of the same name, written in 1920.  Despite the somber text, the mood is idyllic and somewhat reminiscent of the contemporary musical language in use at that time.  Each player also has a brief ad lib section, where they can interpret the material as they choose.  

Click to listen to two snippets of an audio recording of Canal, performed by soprano Noell Dorsey and composer/flutist Matt Samolis:     Canal Owlseyes      Canal Whiteflame

Score for Soprano and Flute, 5 pages; Total, 7 pages.

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US customers may purchase professionally-printed hard copies of Canalfrom Noteworthy Sheet Music for $20.93 plus a $5.95 shipping and handling fee. Please use the Contact Us form to let us know which print edition(s) you would like to purchase, along with your contact information and your USPO mailing address.